Gambia (river)
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Gambia Ba Dimma, Fura |
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 Catchment area of the Gambia |
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| Data | ||
| location |
West Africa Guinea Senegal Gambia  
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| River system | Gambia | |
| Head of the valley | at Labé 11 ° 24 ′ 18 ″ N , 12 ° 15 ′ 5 ″ W. |
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| Source height | 1030 m | |
| muzzle |
Atlantic Ocean at Banjul Coordinates: 13 ° 28 ′ 0 ″ N , 16 ° 34 ′ 0 ″ W 13 ° 28 ′ 0 ″ N , 16 ° 34 ′ 0 ″ W |
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| Mouth height | 0 m | |
| Height difference | 1030 m | |
| Bottom slope | 0.92 ‰ | |
| length | 1120 km | |
| Catchment area | 77,054 km² | |
| Discharge at the level of the bridge of Gouloumbo A Eo : 41,240 km² Location: 492 km above the mouth |
NNQ (1984-01-26) MQ 1975/1980 Mq 1975/1980 HHQ (1975-10-03) |
4.48 m³ / s 162 m³ / s 3.9 l / (s km²) 1410 m³ / s |
| Left tributaries | Koulountou , Bintang Bolong | |
| Right tributaries | Niokolo Koba , Niéri Ko , Sandugu Bolong , Bao Bolong | |
| Medium-sized cities | Basse Santa Su , Janjanbureh , Banjul | |
| Navigable |
From the estuary to Fatoto ~ 500 km |
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 The river at Niokolo-Koba National Park |
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 Satellite image |
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 Fishing boat on the Gambia River at Janjanbureh Island |
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The 1120 kilometer long Gambia ( Ba Dimma , also Fura 'river') is one of the main rivers in West Africa . The state of Gambia is named after the river , half of which flows on its territory.
River course
The Gambia rises in the mountains of Fouta Djallon in a valley head on the northern flank of a 1200 meter mountain peak around ten kilometers north of Labé (Northern Guinea ). The Senegal and Niger rivers have their source further south in this mountainous region .
The Gambia initially flows in a general north direction through the Labé region to the Senegal border . It then continues in a north-westerly direction through the regions of Kédougou and Tambacounda . The river crosses the Niokolo-Koba National Park . The first notable tributary it takes in is the Niokolo Koba on the right , followed by the Niéri Ko and the only large tributary on the left, the Koulountou . At Barra Kunda , the Gambia leaves the mountainous country and enters the wide and flat coastal zone with rapids, the Barrakunda Falls , in order to cross it in multiple turns.
The national territory of Gambia is reached at Fatoto . Here the river takes on the Sandugu Bolong ( known as Sandougou in Senegal ) from the north . The confluence with the Atlantic Ocean at Banjul , the capital of Gambia, has the shape of a so-called estuary (estuary). It lies between Cape St. Mary and Jinnak Bolon (Senegal) and is approximately 22 kilometers wide.
Drain
Dry and rainy season
At Fattatenda , the river is four to six meters deep at 100 meters wide, even in the dry season, which lasts from December to April, while in the rainy season it is twelve to 16 meters higher. In the dry season, the salt water of the Atlantic sometimes penetrates up to 200 kilometers into the river bed, which makes the river water only conditionally suitable for irrigation purposes. In the rainy season the Gambia floods from Barrakunda to the whole plain far and wide, leaving behind a fertilizing mud similar to that of the Nile; then the fresh water of the Gambia penetrates a few kilometers into the ocean.
Hydrometry
Average monthly flow through the Gambia measured at the hydrological station near Gouloumbo (Senegal) in m³ / s. The year 1980-81 is shown here as an example.
River length
The length of the 1120 kilometer long Gambia is in the most diverse reference works sometimes also put at 1127 or 1130 kilometers.
environment
fauna
A study of the ichthyofauna , i.e. the totality of all fish species in the lower reaches of the Gambia up to the mouth in the Atlantic Ocean, was carried out from 2000 to 2002 and the results were published in 2004. The examination room with the 44 sampling points comprised the area near St. Mary's Island , on which the Gambian capital Banjul is located, to near Deer Island . Deer Island is about 220 kilometers river from the estuary.
70 species of fish, which are divided into 32 families, were identified. The Gambia estuarine fish fauna was dominated by the Pseudotolithus elongatus from the umber family (Sciaenidae). The next three most common species were Ethmalosa fimbriata , Ilisha africana and Sardinella maderensis, each from the herring family (Clupeidae).
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Legend:
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| order | family | Art | Cat. | Occ. | % Occ. | Number | Biome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eel-like (Anguilliformes) | Snake eels (Ophichthidae) | Pisodonophis semicinctus | Mon | 3 | 1.4 | 3 | 609 |
| Frogfish (batrachoidiformes) | Frogfish (Batrachoididae) | Batrachoides liberiensis | Ma | 6th | 2.9 | 6th | 261 |
| Garfish (Beloniformes) | Garfish (Belonidae) | Strongylura senegalensis | Em | 4th | 1.9 | 4th | 210 |
| Garfish (Beloniformes) | Garfish (Belonidae) | Tylosurus acus rafale | Mon | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 242 |
| Tetras (Characiformes) | African tetras (Alestidae) | Alestes baremoze | Co | 8th | 3.8 | 13 | 487 |
| Tetras (Characiformes) | African tetras (Alestidae) | Brycinus nurse | Co | 6th | 2.9 | 8th | 309 |
| Tetras (Characiformes) | African tetras (Alestidae) | Hydrocynus brevis | Co | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 386 |
| Herring-like (Clupeiformes) | Herring (Clupeidae) | Ethmalosa fimbriata | Em | 97 | 46.6 | 12,583 | 503.141 |
| Herring-like (Clupeiformes) | Herring (Clupeidae) | Ilisha africana | Em | 93 | 44.7 | 6,760 | 107.393 |
| Herring-like (Clupeiformes) | Herring (Clupeidae) | Pellonula leonensis | Ec | 30th | 14.4 | 79 | 918 |
| Herring-like (Clupeiformes) | Herring (Clupeidae) | Sardinella maderensis | ME | 60 | 28.8 | 3,819 | 66,180 |
| Elopiformes (Elopiformes) | Female fish (Elopidae) | West African womanfish ( Elops lacerta ) | ME | 61 | 29.3 | 141 | 10.161 |
| Bony tongues (Osteoglossiformes) | Nilhechte (Mormyridae) | Hyperopisus quakes | Co | 4th | 1.9 | 6th | 1,549 |
| Bony tongues (Osteoglossiformes) | Nilhechte (Mormyridae) | Giant Nile Pike ( Mormyrops anguilloides ) | Ce | 2 | 1.0 | 3 | 556 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Jackfish (Carangidae) | Cavalla ( Caranx hippos ) | ME | 5 | 2.4 | 16 | 1,262 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Jackfish (Carangidae) | Caranx senegallus | ME | 17th | 8.2 | 79 | 6,664 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Jackfish (Carangidae) | Chloroscombrus chrysurus | ME | 20th | 9.6 | 169 | 5,140 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Jackfish (Carangidae) | Hemicaranx bicolor | Mon | 14th | 6.7 | 40 | 2,563 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Jackfish (Carangidae) | Lichia amia | Ma | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 54 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Jackfish (Carangidae) | Trachinotus teraia | Em | 13 | 6.3 | 21st | 35,369 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Cichlids (Cichlidae) | Sarotherodon melanotheron | It | 4th | 1.9 | 6th | 520 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Cichlids (Cichlidae) | Tilapia guineensis | It | 4th | 1.9 | 4th | 417 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Cichlids (Cichlidae) | Tylochromis jentinki | It | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 483 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Sicklefish (Drepaneidae) | Drepane africana | ME | 11 | 5.3 | 29 | 1,616 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Sleeper gobies (Eleotridae) | Bostrychus africanus | It | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 28 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Spade fish (Ephippidae) | Chaetodipterus lippei | Ma | 3 | 1.4 | 6th | 273 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Mojarras (Gerreidae) | Eucinostomus melanopterus | ME | 5 | 2.4 | 10 | 336 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Mojarras (Gerreidae) | Gerres nigri | It | 4th | 1.9 | 43 | 2,524 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Gobies (Gobiidae) | Nematogobius maindroni | It | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Gobies (Gobiidae) | Porogobius schlegelii | It | 3 | 1.4 | 3 | 5 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Sweetlips and Grunts (Haemulidae) | Brachydeuterus auritus | ME | 9 | 4.3 | 18th | 269 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Sweetlips and Grunts (Haemulidae) | Plectorhinchus macrolepis | Em | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 2,552 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Sweetlips and Grunts (Haemulidae) | Pomadasys jubelini | Em | 11 | 5.3 | 33 | 2,416 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Sweetlips and Grunts (Haemulidae) | Pomadasys perotaei | Em | 5 | 2.4 | 14th | 622 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Fin blades (Monodactylidae) | Seba fin blade ( Monodactylus sebae ) | It | 45 | 21.6 | 150 | 10,685 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Mullets (Mugilidae) | Liza dumerili | Em | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 45 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Mullets (Mugilidae) | Liza falcipinnis | Em | 39 | 18.8 | 259 | 14,503 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Mullets (Mugilidae) | Liza grandisquamis | Em | 67 | 32.2 | 851 | 53,373 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Mullets (Mugilidae) | Mugil bananensis | ME | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 73 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Mullets (Mugilidae) | Great mullet ( Mugil cephalus ) | ME | 1 | 0.5 | 2 | 186 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Threadloss (Polynemidae) | Galeoides decadactylus | ME | 31 | 14.9 | 236 | 7,676 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Threadloss (Polynemidae) | Pentanemus quinquarius | Ma | 49 | 23.6 | 445 | 17,027 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Threadloss (Polynemidae) | Fingerfish ( Polydactylus quadrifilis ) | ME | 81 | 38.9 | 162 | 74,808 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Umberfish (Sciaenidae) | Pseudotolithus brachygnathus | ME | 48 | 23.1 | 142 | 16,849 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Umberfish (Sciaenidae) | Pseudotolithus elongatus | Em | 201 | 96.6 | 19,336 | 1,223,993 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Umberfish (Sciaenidae) | Pseudotolithus senegalensis | Ma | 34 | 16.3 | 180 | 6.107 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Umberfish (Sciaenidae) | Pseudotolithus typus | ME | 15th | 7.2 | 55 | 7,766 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Umberfish (Sciaenidae) | Boe Umberfisch ( Pteroscion peli ) | ME | 10 | 4.8 | 83 | 744 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Umberfish (Sciaenidae) | Umbrina ronchus | Mon | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 15th |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Barracudas (Sphyraenidae) | Sphyraena afra | ME | 11 | 5.3 | 16 | 2,177 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Barracudas (Sphyraenidae) | Sphyraena guachancho | ME | 5 | 2.4 | 7th | 552 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Hair tails (Trichiuridae) | Trichiurus lepturus | ME | 13 | 6.3 | 25th | 4,909 |
| Flatfish (Pleuronectiformes) | Dog tongues (Cynoglossidae) | Cynoglossus senegalensis | Em | 97 | 46.6 | 216 | 30,294 |
| Flatfish (Pleuronectiformes) | Sham butt (Paralichthyidae) | Citharichthys stampflii | Em | 17th | 8.2 | 23 | 374 |
| Flatfish (Pleuronectiformes) | Sole (Soleidae) | Synaptura cadenati | Mon | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 13 |
| Rajiformes | Stingrays (Dasyatidae) | Fontitrygon margarita | Em | 7th | 3.4 | 11 | 9,875 |
| Rajiformes | Stingrays (Dasyatidae) | Fontitrygon margaritella | Em | 3 | 1.4 | 5 | 2,700 |
| Rajiformes | Stingrays (Dasyatidae) | Dasyatis ukpam | Mon | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 15,500 |
| Rajiformes | Butterfly rays (Gymnuridae) | Gymnura micrura | Mon | 2 | 1.0 | 3 | 7,838 |
| Catfish (Siluriformes) | Cross catfish (Ariidae) | Arius heudelotii | ME | 15th | 7.2 | 52 | 10.114 |
| Catfish (Siluriformes) | Cross catfish (Ariidae) | Arius latiscutatus | ME | 73 | 35.1 | 489 | 63,875 |
| Catfish (Siluriformes) | Cross catfish (Ariidae) | Arius parkii | ME | 37 | 17.8 | 115 | 10,557 |
| Catfish (Siluriformes) | Spiny Catfish (Bagridae) | Chrysichthys johnelsi | Ce | 14th | 6.7 | 15th | 502 |
| Catfish (Siluriformes) | Spiny Catfish (Bagridae) | Chrysichthys maurus | Ec | 46 | 22.1 | 109 | 6,940 |
| Catfish (Siluriformes) | Spiny Catfish (Bagridae) | Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus | Ec | 60 | 28.8 | 113 | 28,662 |
| Catfish (Siluriformes) | Gill catfish (Clariidae) | Clarias anguillaris | Co | 1 | 0.5 | 2 | 4,400 |
| Catfish (Siluriformes) | Mochokidae | Synodontis batensoda | Co | 25th | 12.0 | 617 | 27,929 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Threadloss (Polynemidae) | Synodontis gambiensis | Ce | 89 | 42.8 | 1,980 | 101,591 |
| Perch-like (Perciformes) | Glass catfish (Schilbeidae) | Shed intermedius | Ce | 43 | 20.7 | 266 | 5,638 |
| Puffer fish relatives (Tetraodontiformes) | Puffer fish (Tetraodontidae) | Ephippion guttifer | ME | 15th | 7.2 | 37 | 2,588 |
Sights and buildings
In the river - near Juffure - is the island of Kunta Kinteh Island , which was known under the name James Island until 2011, with Fort James , a place where the slave trade used to take place and a place that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Importance as a traffic route
The Gambia can be sailed by seaworthy ships up to approximately 150 miles into near the town of Kuntaur . Smaller ships reach the village of Fatoto after a further 229 kilometers, almost 477 kilometers from the mouth .
literature
In the novel Roots (roots) of Alex Haley of the Gambia River represented one of the clues that helped him to pursue his American family history back to Africa. The words Kamby Bolongo were among the few words his family had passed on from generation to generation. He discovered that a bolongo (= Bolong ) in the language of Mandinka called a "moving water" or "river", from which he believed to be able to conclude that the phrase probably referred to the Gambia river.
Haley believed his theory confirmed when he traveled to Juffure on the north side of the river and found that his oral family history was supported and supplemented by the stories told by the local residents. However, today's research regards Haley's research as dubious in terms of both content and method.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Contour lines according to OpenTopoMap
- ↑ ORSTOM - OMVG: Monograph Hydrologique Du Fleuve Gambie (Status: 1987) Catchment area on page 30 of the PDF file 3.81 MB
- ↑ monograph pages 30 and 137; Gouloumbo at Geonames
- ^ Transport of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and major solutes in the Gambia River, West Africa
- ^ Fish diversity and distribution in the Gambia Estuary, West Africa, in relation to environmental variables . In: Aquatic Living Resources . tape 17 , no. 1 , January 1, 2004, p. 35-46 , doi : 10.1051 / alr: 2004001 .